Conestoga Stratford’s Stuffies for Seniors to provide Spruce Lodge residents with weighted stuffed animals

Through the Stuffies for Seniors initiative, students from the Conestoga College Stratford campus are looking to collect purchases of weighted stuffed animals to give to Spruce Lodge residents living with dementia during the holiday season. There is a tree inside the 60 Erie St. building with the stuffed animals underneath.

Students at the Stratford Campus of Conestoga College are looking for community support to ensure seniors living with dementia have a comforting gift for the holidays.

Conestoga College’s Stratford campus has a holiday tree set up for the Stuffies for Seniors campaign. Stuffies for Seniors ensures that Spruce Lodge residents living with dementia receive a cuddly weighted stuffed animal for Christmas. Up until Dec. 10, anyone can swing by the campus on 60 Erie St. to pick an animal ornament that comes with instructions on where to purchase a weighted stuffed animal.

The weighted stuffed animals can also be bought at Canadian Tire, Winners and/or Amazon to be dropped off at the campus under the tree in a gift bag.

“People have truly embraced this initiative at the campus, the whole of Conestoga College, and the community of Stratford and surrounding area! It has been shared on social media once – and the number of people commenting and asking how they can support has been overwhelming! Many people are sharing it online and coming into the campus to find out more,” Robin Ritz, program coordinator and professor of academic upgrading, told the Times.

The students were looking to give back to the community and wanted to do an angel tree for seniors.

“This idea was presented to Spruce Lodge, and with their number of residents, that did not seem feasible. However, a program was mentioned – where they provide weighted stuffed animals for those living with dementia – and the students embraced this,” Ritz said.

Ritz also said that the Stuffies for Seniors campaign can help out seniors this holiday season by ensuring their comfort.

“The weighted stuffed animals provide comfort and can have calming effects. They provide a tactile comfort that can mimic a hug – thus providing reassurance,” she said. “There are a lot of wonderful initiatives this time of year, with many of them focused on the young. It was important to our students to support the more mature community and provide them with a little holiday cheer and community support this holiday season.”

The students will be delivering the stuffed animals to Spruce Lodge the week of Dec. 8.

Anyone looking for more information can send an email to rritz@conestogac.on.ca.